Ironing machine



Dec. 8, 1942. A. s. REED IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1940 a Sheets-Sheet i w r. /vn

25 Eggs A. s. REED IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2,1940

Dec. 8, 1942.

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IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1940 ayed 6.198862 orvzgys.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r @w WM Patented Dec. 8, 1942 IRONING MACHINE Alfred S. Ree-d, Ripon, Wis, assignor to American Ironing Machine 00., Algonquin, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 2, 1940, Serial'No. 312,026

3 Claims. 01. 3860) The general object of the invention is to provide a novel ironing machine of the type adapted to be placed upon a table or the like when in use, and provided with convenient control means for utilizing the machine for pressing operations in i addition to its normal use in ironing.

- More specifically, it is an object to provide a foot-operated means for preventing operation of the roll to utilize the machine for pressing, said means being operable to be readily released, when desired, to permit intermittent rotation of the roll or to permit resumption of such rotation for operation as an ironer.

Another object is to provide an ironing machine having a hand lever operable to shift the shoe toward the roll and serving to control the rotation of the roll as an incident to the operation of the hand lever, and a switch controlling the motor circuit for preventing operation of the roll, said switch being foot-operated whereby the hands are left free for handling the article being ironed.

Still another object is to provide an ironing machine of the foregoing character in which the foot-operated switch is detachably connected to the machine, so that, when not in use, it may be disconnected and placed out of the way.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows in perspective an ironing machine embodying the features of the invention and positioned for use upon a table.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits in the machine.

Fig. 3 is an end view, partially in section, of the ironing machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the foot-operated switch constituting a part of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing a fragment of a modified form of machine.

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram for the machine shown in Fig. 7, with the foot-operated switch connected.

Fig. 9 is a portion of Fig. 8 but showing foot-operated switch disconnected.

An ironing machine embodying the features of the invention comprises generally a base l0 having a support or casing H at one end thereof to rotatably support a roll l2. Mounted adjacent the roll and parallel thereto is a shoe !3. The shoe I3 is adapted to be heated, and the roll and shoe are adapted to be moved relatively toward and from each other. In the present instance, the shoe I3 is adapted to'be moved toward the the roll and for this purpose is supported by a swingable arm I i. The machine shown herein is of the portable type adapted to be placed on top of a table or the like when in operating position.

For purposes of illustration, the roll I2 is carried on a shaft (not shown) extending from the casing I I. Within the upper end of the casing is gearing for driving the shaft, which gearing is in turn driven by a motor mounted within an extension IE on the outer face of the casing H.

In the present instance the shoe supporting arm Hi is shown as carried on a rock shaft 20 (see Fig. 3) rotatably supported under the base II]. The shoe supporting arm i4 is preferably located at a point intermediate the ends of the shoe l3, and the rock shaft 29 extends from that point over to the right-hand end of the base l0 adjacent the casing H. Mounted on the righthand end of the rock shaft 2i! is a forwardly extending lever arm 2| to the forward or free end of which is connected one of a pair of toggle members 22. The toggle members 22 extend upwardly into the interior of the casing H, and the upper member is rigidly connected to a shaft 23 pivotally supported by the walls of the casing II. The shaft 23 extends through one wall of the casing, in the present instance the righthand Wall, and on its outer end has rigidly connected thereto a hand lever 24 which is arranged to extend generally forward of the machine.

The hand lever 24 is adapted to be moved from the raised position shown in Fig. 3, where the roll and shoe are shown disengaged, to the depressed or lower position shown in Fig. 1. By depressing the hand lever 24 in this manner, the toggle members are straightened, and the lever arm 21 is thereby depressed to rotate the rock shaft 253 and shift the shoe 13 into engagement with the roll l2. Thus by movement of the hand lever 24, relative movement between the roll and shoe are effected.

In the operation of ironing, the roll l2 of course is rotated relative to the shoe by means of the motor l5 and the intermediate gearing. However, there is no necessity to rotate the roll when the shoe and roll are disengaged, and preferably the roll should remain stationary at such times to facilitate the stretching and placing upon the roll of articles to be ironed. To this end the electrical circuit which includes the motor is adapted to be closed as the shoe is moved'toward the roll, and to be opened as the shoe is moved away from the' roll. Preferably such opening and closing of the motor circuit is effected as an incident to the operation of the means for shifting the shoe.

In the present instance, a switch, indicated generally at 25, is mounted in the casing H and has a part or operating member 26 extend ing through the wallthereof into the path. of.

the hand lever 24. In the preferred embodiment, the switch 25 is of the spring-operated type in which the part 26 is moved to a circuit closing position by means of a spring, depression of the part 26 opening the circuit. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the hand lever 24 when in its raised position, in which the shoe is out of contact with the roll, depresses the part 26 of the switch and thus opens the motor circuit so that rotation of i the roll is stopped when the shoe is out of engagement therewith. When the hand lever 24 is moved downwardly to bring the shoe into contact with the roll, it is moved out of contact with the part 28 to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The part 26 is thereupon springpressed outwardly to close the motor :ircuit, and the motor thereupon operates the m1? It is sometimes desired to utilize t.-e machine for pressing, that is, with the roll stationary when the shoe is in engagement therewith. At other times it is desirable to momentarily hold the roll stationary to let the heat and pressure of the shoe act for a short period of time on a particular part of an article being ironed, and then proceed with the ironing operation. At such times it is advantageous for the operator of the machine to have both hands free for handling the article being pressed or ironed.

To accomplish these aims, the preferred embodiment of the machine includes a second switch in the motor circuit which is adapted to be operated by the foot of the operator. As shown herein, a flexible extension cord 30 extends from the base of the machine and is connected into the motor circuit. The extension cord 36 is of sufiicient length to reach to the floor, and on its free end it is provided with a standard 3! in which is mounted a switch, indicated generally at 32. The switch 32 is provided with an operating member 33 extending through the upper face of the standard 3! and adapted to be depressed by the foot. The switch 32 may be of the type which must be actuated by the foot each time it opens or closes a circuit, or preferably it is of the normally closed type, that is, a switch provided with a spring which tends to hold the contacts closed. It thus is similar to the switch 25. The switch 32, however, may be opened merely by pressing the foot on the operating member 33, thus breaking the motor circuit and stopping the motor.

The electrical circuits of the machine embodying the two switches 25 and 32 are shown in Fig. 2. Lead-in wires 34 are provided with an ordinary attachment plug 35 adapted to be plugged into a conventional source of current. A shunt circuit comprising the wires 33 and 31 extend from the lead-in wires 34 to the heating coils 38 embedded in the shoe l3. Extending from one of the lead-in wires 34 is a wire 49 leading to a capacitor 4| for providing starting torque for the motor 42. A second wire 43 extends from the same lead-in wire to the motor for operation of the motor after it has been started. The other lead-in wire 34 extends first to the switch 25, then to the switch 32 and then to the other pole of the motor 42. The two switches are thus in series in the motor circuit so that when either of the switches is opened, the motor will not run.

In the modified form of machine shown in Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, the foot-operated switch is arranged so that it may be completely detached from the machine. To this end; the motor circuit within the machine is provided with a socket adapted to receive a plug to which the extension cord 30 is attached. The plug and socket are so arranged that when the plug is inserted within the socket, the motor circuit includes the foot-operated switch 32 in series, and when the plug is withdrawn from the socket, the motor circuit is closed through the contacts within the socket.

, As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the rear edge of the base If! is provided with an aperture in which the socket, indicated generally at 50, is mounted. The lead wire, indicated at 5|, extending from the switch 25, is connected to an L,-shaped contact 52 in the socket. The socket also includes a hooked-shaped spring member 53 from which a lead 54 extends to the motor 42. When the plug, indicated generallyat 55, on the end of the extension cord 30 is out of the socket, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, the resiliency of the spring-member 53 causes it to contact a point 56 on the L-shaped contact 52. Thus when the plug 55 is withdrawn, the motor circuit is closed through the socket and is under control solely of the switch 25. The foot-operated switch is thus detached from the machine.

In order to place the foot-operated switch 32 into operative relation with the machine, the plug 55 is inserted into the socket. The plug 55 comprises a ball-shaped contact member 51 located at the end of the plug and connected by one wire of the extension cord 30 to one side of the switch 32. The shank portion of the plug comprises a second contact 58 connected to the other side of the switch 32, the contacts 51 and 53 being insulated from each other. Upon insertion of the plug into the receptacle, the contact member 5? engages the end of the spring member 53 of the socket to make contact therewith and to force the spring member 53 sidewardly out of contact with the point 56. The contact 58 of the plug also makes electrical contact with the L-shaped member 52 of the socket. Thus the lead wires 5| and 54 are disconnected through the socket but are connected through the foot-operated switch 32.

The convenience of the foregoing will be apparent since when ordinary ironing work is being done, the foot-operated switch may be dispensed with entirely. On the other hand, when it is desired to utilize the machine for pressing purposes, the foot-operated switch may be connected merely by inserting the plug 35 into the socket 50.

In the operation of the machine, the attachment plug 35 of course is plugged into a source of current such as the wall socket shown in Fig. 1. After the heating coils 38 heat the shoe l3 to the desired heat, the machine is ready for operation. For ordinary ironing the foot-operated switch 32 is not touched since it is normally in circuit closing position. To bring the shoe into contact with the roll the hand lever 24 is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 1. The movable part 26 of the switch 25 contained in the casing is thus permitted to swing outwardly since the hand lever 24 is moved below the part 26, as shown in Fig. 6. The switch 25 is thereby closed, thus closing the motor circuit and permitting the motor to run. The roll thus operates as long as the hand lever 24 remains in its lower position. Upon raising the hand lever 24 the shoe is moved away from the roll and the movable part 26 of the switch 25 is moved inwardly of the casing to open the motor circuit.

When it is desired to use the machine for Pressing, the operator places her foot upon the Standard 3| and forces down the operating member 33 of the switch 32, thus opening the motor circuit. The hand lever 24 may then be depressed, but since the motor circuit is opened by the switch 32, closing of the switch 25 is ineffective and the motor will not operate to rotate the roll. The shoe is thu brought into engagement with the roll and will press an article therebetween. If, after a given part of the article is pressed, it is desired to move the next part of the article in between the roll and the shoe, the foot may be raised from the movable part 33 of the switch 32 momentarily to close the motor circuit and permit a slight rotation of the roll. Upon subsequent depression of the foot the circuit is again opened and the roll remains stationary. In ironing certain articles which have some portions thicker or heavier than others, the foot-operated switch may be used to advantage. Thus in ironing such an article, the ordinary ironing operation proceeds until such thicker or heavier part is reached, at which time the motor circuit may be opened by depressing the movable part 33 of the switch 32. The motor thus stops its rotation and the operator may cause rotation to be resumed at such time as is deemed sufiicient to iron and dry out such thicker or heavier part.

The foot-operated switch being on the end of a flexible cord may be placed at any convenient spot for the operator. Moreover, by

utilizing the foot for operating the switch 32,

the operators hands are free to guide and place the article being ironed or pressed and to shift the hand lever 24.

In the modified form of machine shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the operation is substantially the same as in the form shown in the other figures. However, the modified form of machine has the advantage of being able to completely detach the foot-operated switch and put it out of the way when ordinary ironing is being done on the machine. However, should it be desired to use the machine for pressing purposes, the footoperated switch may be connected into the motor circuit merely by inserting the plug into the socket 50. When the plug is so inserted the machine may be operated in exactly the same manner as the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive,

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a novel ironing machine of the type adapted to be placed on a table or the like when in use, and which is provided with a convenient control means by which the machine may be utilized for pressing operations. It will also be apparent that the foot-operated means may be readily manipulated so that the roll may be held stationary during the entire period of operation, or may be temporarily held stationary for pressing certain parts of an article, the balance of which it is desired to iron. By having the control operated by the foot, the operators hands are free to perform other operations. It will also be apparent that I have provided an ironing machine of the foregoing character from which the foot-operated switch may be entirely disconnected from the machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a roll and a shoe relatively movable toward and from each other, a support for the roll at one end thereof, means for efiecting such relative movement between the roll and the shoe including a hand lever mounted on said support, a motor for driving the roll, a switch in the motor circuit mounted on said support in the path of movement of said hand lever and being spring-operated to close the motor circuit when the hand lever is moved away from the switch upon effecting relative movement of the roll and shoe toward each other whereby theroll is rotated and said switch being movable to open position by the hand lever when the latter effects disengagement of the roll and shoe, and a second switch having an extension cord connecting it in the motor circuit, said second switch being adapted to be placed upon the floor for operation by the foot to open the motor circuit whereby the mctcg 'may be prevented from operating when the roll and shoe are in engagement.

2. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a roll and a shoe relatively movable toward and from each other, means for effecting such relative movement, a motor for rotating the roll, a switch in the motor circuit operable as an incident to the relative movement of the shoe and roll whereby the roll will be driven only when the shoe is in engagement therewith, a socket mounted on the base of the machine and comprising a pair of contact members at least one of which is resilient, said contact members being.

connected in the motor circuit and normally being in engagement, and an extension cord having a foot-operated switch on one end to control the motor circuit and a plug on the other end adapted to be inserted into the socket, said plug comprising a pair of contacts insulated from each other, one contact of the plug being adapted to engage one contact member of the socket upon insertion of the plug and the other contact of the plug being adapted to engage the resilient contact member of the socket and to spring said resilient contact member out of engagement with the other contact member.

3. An ironing machine comprising, in combination, a roll and a shoe relatively movable toward and from each other, supporting structure having means for supporting the rollat one end thereof, means for efiecting such relative movement between the roll and the shoe comprising a plurality of movable parts one of which is a hand lever mounted on said supporting structure, a motor for driving the roll, a switch in the motor circuit mounted on said sup orting structure in the path of movement of one of said movable parts, said switch having a shiftable element to open and close the circuit which element is spring operated in one direction and is movable in the opposite direction against the action of the spring by said movable part, whereby the switch closes the motor circuit to rotate the roll upon movement of the roll and shoe toward each other and the switch opens the motor circuit to stop rotation of the roll when said movable part is moved in effecting disengagement of the roll and shoe, and a second switch having an extension cord connecting it in the motor circuit, said second switch being adapted to be placed upon the fioor for operation by the operator to open the motor circuit whereby the motor may be prevented from operating when the roll and shoe are in engagement.

ALFREDS. REED. 

